# NTSB CEN21LA202: Boeing A75, N56760, Denver, CO, April 26, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 26, 2021, 13:46 local (19:46 UTC) - Place: Denver, CO - Coordinates: 39.57011, -104.8492 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5701&lon=-104.8492&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102987 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA202 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102987/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102987 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA202 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll with variable and gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Boeing A75, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=1380108), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing in the tailwheel-equipped airplane and as the tailwheel touched down on the runway, the airplane suddenly veered to the right. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane veered hard to the left and exited the left side of the runway, despite the pilot’s use of right rudder and braking. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the top left wing, vertical stabilizer, and rudder. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing on runway 28 with wind reported as variable 050 o to 290o with gusts to 20 knots. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that when the tailwheel equipped airplane approached the airport, the wind was variable from 290 to 050 degrees, gusting to 20 knots. While on a two mile final, the tower controller reported the wind was 290 degrees at 7 knots. The airplane touched down on the main landing gear with no noteable crosswind. As the tailwheel touched down, the airplane suddenly veered to the right; the pilot corrected with left rudder and the airplane veered hard to the left. The pilot attempted to add right tudder and brake, but to no avail. The airplane exited the left side of the runway onto the dirt when it nosed over and came to rest inverted. The upper wing and rudder were substantially damaged. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56760](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N56760), registered now, S/N 75-017, built 1936 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOEING A75 - Registry model: [Boeing A75](https://openairdocs.org/model/boeing-a75) (registry code 1380108) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-an-1) (registry code 51659, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 75-017 - Year built: 1936 - Airframe hours: 5345 - Engines: P&W R-985-AN-1 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Wings over the Rockies Air and Space Museum - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 3, 2021 - Departed: GXY, Greeley, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: A75, Centennial Airport, runway 28, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 24, 2021; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 18,725 total, 61 in this make and model, 14,600 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 8 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 7 °F - Altimeter: 29.59 inHg - Observed at: APA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20210426007329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210426007329A), Apr 26, 2021: Boeing A75, Englewood, CO, Substantial damage. On 04/26/2021, at 1945Z, a Boeing/stearman, N56760, piloted by [privacy data omitted], [privacy data omitted] was involved in an aircraft accident on runway 28… ## Other investigations on N56760 (2) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX00LA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA119), Mar 7, 2000: Stearman A-75 (N56760), Imperial, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain directional control of the aircraft during landing roll. - [NTSB LAX86LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX86LA215), May 10, 1986: Boeing A75 (N56760), Angels Camp, CA, destroyed ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102987. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12233494&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - On scene photos - courtesy of airport operations (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 320 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12219967&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=on%20scene%20photos-Rel.pdf - Record of email - federal aviation administration (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12263711&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20faa%20exam-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.